90 CERTAIN ABORIGINAL xMOUNDS OF THE GEORGIA COAST. 



Near this settlement are a number of aboriginal mounds on property controlled 

 by Mr. C. H. Harper of Rome, Georgia. 



In a field long under cultivation, at the southern outskirt of the settlement, 

 was a low mound, probably much reduced in height by the plow, which, in addition, 

 had been impaired for complete archeeological investigation by the hauling away of 

 a considerable quantity of oyster shells from the central portion. The depression 

 thus made was clearly apparent, and nowhere extended through the layer of oyster 

 shells with which all but the marginal portion of the mound was covered. How- 

 ever, as no artifacts or burials were found by us entirely in the shell layer, and as 

 the marginal portion of the mound seemed to be intact, it would appear that no 

 material injury had been done. Nevertheless, the colored man who had super- 

 intended the removal of the shell previous to our work, referred to skeletons and 

 earthenware pots containing bones, found by him, so the result of our investigation 

 must not be regarded as complete. 



The mound was dug through at a depth much below the general level, during 

 the latter part of November, 1896. 



The mound, with a height of 18 inches and a diameter of base of about 45 

 feet, was composed of a rich loamy sand of a dark brown color, extending much 

 below the level of the surrounding territory to undisturbed bright yellow sand. 

 There was no mistaking the artificial portion of the mound. The thickness of the 

 highest remaining part was 28 inches, or 18 inches above the general level and 

 10 inches below it. The deposit of oyster shells, to which reference has been 

 made, was of irregular thickness, averaging, perhaps, 16 inches. Throughout this 

 interesting mound were great numbers of sherds and many vessels of earthenware 

 of poor material — clay mixed with coarse sand — gritty ware, as it is called. Owing 

 to the inferiority of the material comparatively few were recovered in good condition 

 though nearly all had been interred apparently intact — save perforation of the 

 base in some cases — and not broken or with essential portions missing, as they 

 were often buried by the thrifty Florida Indians. The ordinary form of mortuary 

 ware encountered in this mound had the rounded base and almost cylindrical 

 body contracted slightly at the neck beneath a flaring rim, often with a beaded 

 margin, to which we have often referred as the ordinary type. 



Besides numerous sherds there were found in the mound, loose in the sand, two 

 large beads of shell, one pebble-hammer and a mass of stone about two-thirds the 

 size' of a clenched fist, probably a portion of a hammer-stone. 



We proceed to a detailed description in conjunction with the diagram (Fig. 53). 



Burial No. 1, 24 feet S. of a point supposed to occupy a central position on the 

 surface of the mound, 1 foot from the surface, was the skeleton of a child about 

 5 years of age, head E. 



Burial No. 2, 22 feet S. by E., skeleton of a female, head S., cranial sutures open, 

 well defined Inca bone. Cranium preserved in good condition (A. N. S. Cat. No. 

 2,164). Body on back with lower extremities flexed to the right. A small layer of 

 charcoal, with minute fragments of calcined bones intermingled, lay over the lower 

 portion of the trunk. This skeleton was 1 foot 10 inches from the surface. 



